Author: Guest Post

A guest piece from Emma Harris, regional organizing director for Beto O’Rourke in Polk County. When someone asks me why I work for Beto O’Rourke, I end up talking about my dad. He was an officer in the Navy for over twenty years and was a lifelong, “common sense” Republican. We have never agreed on politics —I remember one particularly brutal eight-hour drive in 2013 that turned into a heated debate about President Obama. He started losing his allegiance to the Republican Party during the 2015 primary. I could see his dissatisfaction in a party that was dominated by petty […]

A guest post from Avery Fair, a 17-year-old activist from Dubuque. This upcoming 2020 presidential election will be different from past elections, with a vast number of Democratic candidates running for the nomination this year. For me personally, it will be the first election cycle I am able to participate in. I wanted to find a way to educate myself on all the candidates and the process surrounding the election. Living in Iowa, I constantly have the opportunity to hear candidates speak when they visit the state. When I began listening to candidates, I learned that you won’t agree with […]

A guest post from Bobbi Hancock, a longtime political activist from Council Bluffs. For 25 years, I was a registered Republican. I voted for the GOP candidate in five straight presidential elections. I caucused for Rick Santorum and worked tirelessly for Marco Rubio. Seven months ago, I switched my political affiliation to “No Party.” Two months ago, I registered as a Democrat and volunteered to help Mayor Pete Buttigieg in his presidential run. In 2020, for the first time, I will vote for a Democrat for the highest office in the land. I was born and raised in a small, […]

A guest piece from Jan Bauer, Iowa DNC Member and former 22-year Story County Democratic Chair Election cycle after cycle, Democrats fight the same battles with few results to show. Since I first became active in politics in the 1980s, many of the most progressive victories Democrats have achieved in Washington, D.C. – the Assault Weapons Ban, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Affordable Care Act and more – have been diluted or eliminated altogether by Washington lawmakers focused on their next re-election campaign. We have to ask ourselves, with the majority of Americans in support […]

Guest post from Julián Castro’s first big round of Iowa Caucus endorsers. As Iowans, we understand the responsibility that comes with being the first in the nation to vote. We want to not only hear where the candidates stand on the issues, but to truly understand how their vision for our country will impact our neighbors and our community. We want to be confident that our nominee has the strength, empathy, passion and experience to deal with the challenges ahead. Secretary Julián Castro’s vision to make this country the smartest, healthiest, most prosperous, and fairest for all Americans is the […]

Guest post from State Representative Kenan Judge of Waukee. As a country, we’ve lost sight of a lot of who we are. Our differences are getting in the way of our common goals. We need to restore a sense of civility and compromise in our politics and government. We have so many problems that will only be solved if we can come together and agree to get something done. Our kids don’t feel safe in their schools because of the gun violence epidemic; our broken health care system is forcing too many Americans to go without critical medical care and […]

A guest post from Cedar Rapids City Councilmember Dale Todd These days, it seems like finger pointing has replaced solutions and results in Washington D.C. Democrats and Republicans are unable to agree on something as basic as the truth. We desperately need someone who can heal our divisions and unite this country. After listening to 20 candidates debate over two nights this past week, it is increasingly clear that Cory Booker is that leader. I believe most government is local, which is why it is important to me to have an experienced municipal executive at the helm: he ran New […]

A guest post from Iowa State Representatives Jennifer Konfrst, Amy Nielsen, Mark Smith. For centuries, our nation has served as a beacon of hope to the rest of the world because of Americans rising above our differences and celebrating what we had in common — being part of one of the first Democratic experiments in human history, one ruled by and for the people that strives to protect liberty and justice for all. These days, it feels like that great experiment is being tested, but we know our nation has a rich history of coming together even during our darkest […]

Guest post from Connie Klug, an Adel business developer manager and co-chair of Delaney’s Iowa campaign. I have lived on 15A west of Des Moines for nearly 20 years, and I am a proud life-long Iowan. I am a widow with two children, both married with kids of their own – one family lives in Seattle, and one in Washington, D.C. About 18 months ago, my son Jay, who lives in D.C., called me: “Mom, you need to have something for John Delaney at your place. He is a Congressman in Maryland and he’s running for President. Mom, I know […]